Skye Blakely claimed the Skye Blakely world all-around title at the 2026 World Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam on Friday, scoring 55.733 points across four apparatus to secure the biggest individual prize outside the Olympics.
The 21-year-old American, a University of Florida junior from Dallas, entered the final as the second-ranked qualifier and held a lead of more than one point going into her last rotation, floor exercise. She protected that advantage to finish ahead of Russia’s Liudmila Roshchina, who took silver with 55.199, and China’s Ke Qinqin, who earned bronze with 55.032.
A comeback built on two major surgeries
Blakely’s path to the title ran through two serious injuries. In 2021, she tore an elbow ligament before the Tokyo Olympic trials. Three years later, two days before the 2024 US Olympic trials, she ruptured her right Achilles during floor exercise training. She underwent surgery and missed the entire 2024 season.
Before that second injury, Blakely had finished as national championships runner-up to Simone Biles. Biles was the last American to win the world all-around title, in 2023, making Blakely the first US woman to claim the honor since then.
How the final unfolded
Blakely’s balance beam routine proved pivotal. She scored 14.200 on the apparatus, a strong result on an event that had troubled the US team during the team final earlier in the week. Her overall total reflected consistency across all four events, and she became emotional after her floor routine before wrapping herself in an American flag.
Afterward, Blakely said she had competed for her past selves from 2021 and 2024, telling herself she was capable and ready. She said the win meant a great deal given the two major surgeries and hardships, and that she was proud while reflecting on her childhood dream. She added that she had already cried.
Nemour's vault error opens the door
Kaylia Nemour of Algeria entered the final as the top qualifier but finished fourth after a mistake on vault. She recovered on uneven bars but missed the bronze medal by just 0.034 points. The narrow margin left the podium out of reach despite her qualifying position.
Claire Pease, the second American in the field, fell from the balance beam and finished seventh. The fall cost her a higher placement in a final where clean routines were at a premium.
US team context and upcoming finals
The US women’s team won silver behind China in Wednesday’s team competition. The American program has now reached the podium at every Olympics and world championships since 2003, a streak that continued in Rotterdam.
Competition continues Saturday with apparatus finals. Blakely and Pease are scheduled to compete in the vault and uneven bars finals. On the men’s side, Fred Richard is set for the floor exercise final, and Patrick Hoopes will compete in the pommel horse final.
